Castle of Guadalest
Little more than four kilometres away from Callosa d’en Sarrià along the winding road following the valley of the Guadalest, and just over 15 kilometres from Benidorm, or by the alternative route from Benidorm along the road from Polop de la Marina following the mountain slopes, stands the ancient fortress of Guadalest, at the head of the valley, with its back to the reservoir named after the river. It rises up in a privileged setting high on the crags which tower over the valley, creating a medieval picture, really impressive with its unique structure and the charm of its haughty silhouette. The upright outline of the crags on wich the old castle stands can be made out from far away, the white bell-tower crowning the sharp rocks.
As the visitor aprroaches and climbs the narrow streets full of little shops and stalls offering a wide range of typical products and handicrafts, he reaches the zig-zagging path up to the hundred-year-old door, carved into the very rock, which leads to the historic and impregnable fortress, from whose square there is a wonderful view of the reservoir. A little further up, along the Via Crucis, the visitor reaches the terrace on which the castle, nowadays a cemetery, used to stand, to be rewarded with an exceptional panoramic view of orchards and pine forests streching away down to the sea, a landscape of breath-taking beauty. Reminders of the Middle Ages are kept in a seculed fromer prison in the bassement of the Town Hall. In the assembly room, the visitor can appreciate a picture of considerable historic and artistic value.
Castell de Guadalest offers the visitor
the added charm of its varied museums where delicate miniatures,
artistic sculptures, everyday utensils or models of outstanding accuracy
can be seen.
To complement all this, the typical mountain cuisine, handed down from
generation to generation, is prepared with great pride in the various
restaurants, making the visit to Castell de Guadalest an unforgettable
experience which has inspired numerous travellers who have enjoyed this
outstanding scenery to write glowing reports.
